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OBAMA BOO-BOO OBSCURES OAXACA

President Obama soon will learn (unless an alert staffer already has informed him) that it is chancy to make on-the-spot historical comparisons without proper research on the subject.

Today, in his ending press conference from Trinidad-Tobago, President Obama had an “assume” moment. In response to a journalist’s question as to U.S. policy regarding the upcoming U.N. conference on racism, the president, to his credit, stated before a Latin American and world audience that the U.S. is not the only country with a history of racism; that racial bias has been and is present in Latin American countries, as well. Than, apparently as a way of mitigating his words, he pointed out, as progress in that area, Bolivia’s election of Evo Morales as the first president of indigenous origin in this hemisphere. (Oops!)

To his chagrin, especially in light of his Lincolnian links, Mr. Obama will discover that, during the era of Abraham Lincoln, Mexico elected as its president one Benito Juárez, who was of pure indigenous blood.

Juárez and Lincoln never met personally, although they did correspond. Apart from their both being benevolent and of great intellect, they each are remembered as great emancipators, as Juárez concurrently ended slavery in Mexico.

What should have been known to Barack is that there are Juárez and Lincoln tributes throughout Mexico. Their names adorn community centers, schools and other public institutions. In Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego, there is a huge statue of Lincoln gracing one of the roundabouts in the downtown area.

Benito Juárez, who was born in the Mexican state of Oazaca, did not learn to speak Spanish until around puberty. He was taken in by a Spanish family, taught their language and given an education usually available only to the upper classes. Naturally, his road to the presidency was not easy. Even to this day, the term “Indio” is a big put-down in Mexico. (Take note, Black folk!) Nevertheless, he prevailed, and there are monuments to him as “El Benemérito de América.”

Juárez is known for his popular sayings. Probably apocryphal is the recounting of when he was setting out for México City to take office. He opened the little door of a cage and let the bird fly off. In so doing, he is reported to have said, “La libertad es cosa Buena.” (Freedom is a good thing). His most famous quotation is, “El respeto al derecho ajen es la paz.” (Peace means respecting the rights of others.)

Now, that’s a thought right down Obama’s alley!